Arnprior Regional Health and Queensway Carleton Hospital are launching a collaborative Total Knee Surgery Program adding capacity to the health care system.
This involves the introduction of two outpatient knee surgery days each week at ARH.
The surgeries will be performed by QCH surgeons and supported by the ARH surgical team.
The new arrangement is consistent with the perceived benefits of the two facilities’ partnership in the Ottawa West Four Rivers Ontario Health Team.
ARH expanded its surgical team by adding two new anaesthetists and RNs with experience in orthopaedic surgery.
The collaborative surgical team, comprised of three QCH surgeons and ARH anaesthetists, nurses, and allied health professionals was validated over three weeks of specialized training and two trial dates, one at each venue.
The program formally started at ARH on May 2nd, with a target of three knee surgeries done each day on Mondays and Fridays.
QCH knee surgery patients are given the option to have their surgery done at ARH if they meet certain criteria for the day surgery.
Staff believe the Arnprior option could cut wait times for knee surgeries by up to four months.
